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Personal trainers and virtual reality fitness professionals share their favorite games that are both entertaining and effective.
Reading on if the idea of slicing orbs to the beat of your favorite song, dodging laser beams, or sword battling orcs in the midst of a forest seems like a lot more fun than logging kilometers on a treadmill.
According to Jimmy Bagley, PhD, associate professor of kinesiology and research director of the Strength and Conditioning Lab at San Francisco State University who studies virtual reality health and exercise, you can break a sweat and burn some serious calories from the comfort of your living room using VR technology. Also, there is potential for great entertainment value in the games.
Though not frequently promoted as such, "our research indicates that when you play them, some can offer the workout equivalent to walking on a treadmill or riding on a stationary cycle," Dr. Bagley explains.
A virtual reality (VR) headset, such as the Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2), HTC Vive Pro, or PlayStation VR, is required to begin VR fitness. You'll want to start by getting some games installed.
And remember, talk to your doctor before beginning any new exercise program, including virtual reality fitness games, if you have a health problem or injury that might prevent you from exercising safely.
7 Recommended Virtual Reality Workout Games
To get in shape, Bagley and other virtual reality fitness professionals shared their go-to virtual reality video games with us. In addition to getting your blood flowing, playing these games will force you off the sofa and onto your feet. Here is a summary of their recommendations:
First, something supernatural
Bagley and Aaron Stanton, founder and director of the VR Health Institute, an independent research organization established in 2017 to investigate the effects of virtual and augmented reality technology on fitness, both agreed that Supernatural was the best VR experience for improving physical fitness. (The Virtual Reality Health Institute has collaborated with both Bagley and San Francisco State University.)
More than 500 pieces are available on this subscription-based exercise platform, and more are being added every day. You may work out with a virtual teacher in breathtaking locations like the Bolivian salt flats or an Icelandic volcano while practicing yoga, Pilates, boxing, and other disciplines.
Supernatural's trademark game, Flow, is a full-body workout that has players smashing targets to the beat of a song while dodging and jumping over shapes.
Usually, the duration of the exercises ranges from 10 to 30 minutes. Before you know it, you've worked up a sweat and completed your daily activity requirement, as Bagley puts it.
In order to participate, you will need a Meta Quest VR headset. The monthly fee for a member is $19.99.
2 Defeat the Saber
It's "addictive," according to Bagley. Each controller represents a red and blue lightsaber, and you use them to slash at moving objects in time with the music. You must use the appropriate sword to cut through the red or blue shapes. You'll have to duck and weave to avoid danger as well.
To paraphrase, "It makes me long for the days of classic Dance Dance Revolution. Bagley notes that "it might wind up being a fairly hard workout."
Beat Saber may be played on a variety of systems, including as the Meta Quest and PlayStation VR goggles. Price tags often start around $30.
Feeling the Thrill of Victory
Download Thrill of the Fight and put on your virtual reality headset if you've ever wanted to see how you'd perform in a boxing ring.
According to Stanton, Thrill of the Fight is only one of several games that have had their calorie expenditures evaluated by the VR Health Institute. Turns out, sparring was one of the games with the highest energy expenditures per minute. Players' caloric expenditure, which ranged from 9.74 to 15.32 per minute, was comparable to that of a real-world rowing session.
Boxing fights last around five minutes, during which time you fire constant punches while crouching and dodging to both sides. The intensity of the workout may surprise you. After a few bouts, according to Stanton, you'll be drenched in perspiration and have aching arms.
Plus, you won't feel a thing when you get punched or struck virtually!
In Order to Have Fun Meta Quest virtual reality headset users may now enjoy it. You can get it for $9.99.
Holoball, number four
Tim Donahey, a personal trainer in Ohio who is credentialed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, began using virtual reality training in August 2016 to help him shed pounds he'd acquired earlier in the year. (Donahey documented his 50-day, one-hour Virtual Reality (VR) workout regimen on Reddit.)
Holoball is similar to virtual racquetball; similarly, participants stand in a bright room and hit neon-colored balls against the walls. It's easy to pick up and use, and it will feel like an old friend while you play. To the contrary, "from a cardiovascular viewpoint, it will bring your heart rate up to the warm-up zone and maintain you there," Donahey explains.
Holoball may be accessed and played on a variety of virtual reality (VR) systems, including Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, HTC Vive, and Steam. The pricing range is from $9.99 to $14.99. (depending on your platform).
H5: Holopoint
Holopoint is the place to go if you're interested in trying your hand at archery.
You take on the role of an archer and must use your virtual bow to shoot at blue targets that are moving toward you. According to Mathias Sorensen, an ACSM-certified personal trainer and curriculum manager at the American Fitness and Nutrition Academy in Pasadena, California, a blue laser beam is fired at you every time you destroy a target. Gamer Sorensen claims he began utilizing virtual reality (VR) fitness games in 2015.
Sorensen enjoys the variety of motions, such as jumping and ducking to dodge lasers as you race about your living room shooting arrows from a variety of positions.
Sorensen warns that as you progress through the game's stages, ninjas and samurais equipped with swords and laser beams of their own will appear.
In Order to Have Fun You may get it on PlayStation VR, Meta Quest, or Steam. There is a $14.99 price tag.
6. FitXR
Sorensen suggests trying out FitXR if you like having a few different ways to get your workout done. The portal has a wide variety of fitness studios, including those offering boxing, dancing, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). To have access to the exercise library, you will need to sign up for a membership. On-demand courses are available, and fresh exercises are added every day. You may tailor your exercise experience by selecting from a variety of music styles and settings.
For Sorensen, the boxing drills are the most enjoyable element of the platform.
For cardiovascular exercise, it is among the highest in difficulty. He describes you as "pumped the whole time, throwing punches and dodging blows while throwing your own."
In Order to Have Fun Currently, it's an exclusive feature of Meta Quest. It costs $9.99 per month to subscribe.
Virtual reality for goaltenders 7
The pressure is on for the goalkeeper in a soccer game. Donahey recommends Goalkeeper VR if you want to put yourself in their virtual cleats without any of the stress.
Donahey warns that guarding the net requires focus, coordination, and speedy reactions. You'll need to use your hands, feet, and even your forehead to deflect balls, so get ready to jump, lunge to the side, and slide on your knees.
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